THE 


CONSTITUTIO 


OF 


THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 


WITH 


THE  AMENDMENTS. 


[COMPARED  WITH  THE  ORIGINAL  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 
APRIL  13,  1891,  AND  FOUND  TO  BE  CORRECT.] 


WASHINGTON  : 
GOVERNMENT  PRINTING 

189I. 


OFFICE. 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


THE 


Constitution 


of 


THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 


WITH 


THE  AMENDMENTS. 


[COMPARED  WITH  THE  ORIGINAL  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE, 
APRIL  13,  1891,  AND  FOUND  TO  BE  CORRECT.] 


WASHINGTON : 

GOVERNMENT   PRINTING  OFFICE. 
189I. 


[THE  CONSTITUTION 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.] 


WE  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  Order  to  form  a  more 
perfect  Union,  establish  Justice,  insure  domestic  Tranquility, 
provide  for  the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  Wel- 
fare, and  secure  the  Blessings  of  Liberty  to  ourselves  and  our 
Posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution  for  the 
United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE.  I. 

Section,  i.  All  legislative  Powers  herein  granted  shall  be 
vested  in  a  Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist 
of  a  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives. 
Section.  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed 
of  Members  chosen  every  second  Year  by  the  People  of  the  sev- 
eral States,  and  the  Electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  Qual- 
ifications requisite  for  Electors  of  the  most  numerous  Branch 
of  the  State  Legislature. 

No  Person  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall  not  have  at- 
tained to  the  Age  of  twenty  five  Years,  and  been  seven  Years  a 
Citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected, 
be  an  Inhabitant  of  that  State  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

3 


4 

Representatives  and  direct  Taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among 
the  several  States  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union, 
according  to  their  respective  Numbers,  which  shall  be  deter- 
mined by  adding  to  the  whole  Number  of  free  Persons,  includ- 
ing those  bound  to  Service  for  a  Term  of  Years,  and  excluding 
Indians  not  taxed,  three  fifths  of  all  other  Persons.  The  actual 
Enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  Years  after  the  first 
Meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every 
subsequent  Term  of  ten  Years,  in  such  Manner  as  they  shall  by 
Law  direct.  The  Number  of  Representatives  shall  not  exceed 
one  for  every  thirty  Thousand,  but  each  State  shall  have  at  Least 
one  Representative  ;  and  until  such  enumeration  shall  be  made, 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  chuse  three, 
Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode-Island  and  Providence  Plantations 
one,  Connecticut  five,  New- York  six,  New  Jersey  four,  Penn- 
sylvania eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten,  North 
Carolina  five,  South  Carolina  five,  and  Georgia  three. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  Representation  from  any 
State,  the  Executive  Authority  thereof  shall  issue  Writs  of 
Election  to  fill  such  Vacancies. 

The  House  of  Representatives  shall  chuse  their  Speaker  and 
other  Officers  ;  and  shall  have  the  sole  Power  of  Impeachment. 
Section.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  com- 
posed of  two  Senators  from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  Legis- 
lature thereof,  for  six  Years  ;  and  each  Senator  shall  have  one 
Vote. 

Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  Consequence 
of  the  first  Election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may 
be  into  three  Classes.  The  Seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first 
Class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  Expiration  of  the  second  Year,  of 
the  second  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the  fourth  Year,  and  of 


5 

the  third  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the  sixth  Year,  so  that  one 
third  may  be  chosen  every  second  Year  ;  and  if  Vacancies  hap- 
pen by  Resignation,  or  otherwise,  during  the  Recess  of  the 
Legislature  of  any  State,  the  Executive  thereof  may  make 
temporary  Appointments  until  the  next  Meeting  of  the  Legis- 
lature, which  shall  then  fill  such  Vacancies. 

No  Person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to 
the  Age  of  thirty  Years,  and  been  nine  Years  a  Citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  Inhabi- 
tant of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice  President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President 
of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  Vote,  unless  they  be  equally 
divided. 

The  Senate  shall  chuse  their  other  Officers,  and  also  a  Pres- 
ident pro  tempore,  in  the  Absence  of  the  Vice  President,  or 
when  he  shall  exercise  the  Office  of  President  of  the  United 
States. 

The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  Power  to  try  all  Impeachments. 
When  sitting  for  that  Purpose,  they  shall  be  on  Oath  or  Affir- 
mation. When  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the 
Chief  Justice  shall  preside  :  And  no  Person  shall  be  convicted 
without  the  Concurrence  of  two  thirds  of  the  Members  present. 

Judgment  in  Cases  of  Impeachment  shall  not  extend  further 
than  to  removal  from  Office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and 
enjoy  any  Office  of  honor,  Trust  or  Profit  under  the  United 
States  :  but  the  Party  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and 
subject  to  Indictment,  Trial,  Judgment  and  Punishment,  accord- 
ing to  Law. 

Section.  4.  The  Times,  Places  and  Manner  of  holding  Elec- 
tions for  Senators  and  Representatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in 
each  State  by  the  Legislature  thereof ;  but  the  Congress  may 


6 


at  any  time  by  Law  make  or  alter  such  Regulations,  except  as 
to  the  Places  of  chusing  Senators. 

The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  Year,  and 
such  Meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless 
they  shall  by  Law  appoint  a  different  Day. 
Section.  5.  Each  House  shall  be  the  Judge  of  the  Elections, 
Returns  and  Qualifications  of  its  own  Members,  and  a  Majority 
of  each  shall  constitute  a  Quorum  to  do  Business  ;  but  a  smaller 
Number  may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized 
to  compel  the  Attendance  of  absent  Members,  in  such  Manner, 
and  under  such  Penalties  as  each  House  may  provide. 

Each  House  may  determine  the  Rules  of  its  Proceedings, 
punish  its  Members  for  disorderly  Behaviour,  and,  with  the  Con- 
currence of  two  thirds,  expel  a  Member. 

Each  House  shall  keep  a  Journal  of  its  Proceedings,  and  from 
time  to  time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such  Parts  as  may  in 
their  Judgment  require  Secrecy  ;  and  the  Yeas  and  Nays  of  the 
Members  of  either  House  on  any  question  shall,  at  the  desire 
of  one  fifth  of  those  Present,  be  entered  on  the  Journal. 

Neither  House,  during  the  Session  of  Congress,  shall,  with- 
out the  Consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days, 
nor  to  any  other  Place  than  that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall 
be  sitting. 

Section.  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive 
a  Compensation  for  their  Services,  to  be  ascertained  by  Law, 
and  paid  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall 
in  all  Cases,  except  Treason,  Felony  and  Breach  of  the  Peace, 
be  privileged  from  Arrest  during  their  Attendance  at  the  Ses- 
sion of  their  respective  Houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  the  same;  and  for  any  Speech  or  Debate  in  either  House, 
they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  Place. 


7 

No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  Time  for 
which  he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  Office  under  the 
Authority  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  have  been  created, 
or  the  Emoluments  whereof  shall  have  been  encreased  during 
such  time ;  and  no  Person  holding  any  Office  under  the  United 
States,  shall  be  a  Member  of  either  House  during  his  Contin- 
uance in  Office. 

Section.  7.  All  Bills  for  raising  Revenue  shall  originate  in 
the  House  of  Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or 
concur  with  Amendments  as  on  other  Bills. 

Every  Bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  become  a  Law,  be  pre- 
sented to  the  President  of  the  United  States ;  If  he  approve  he 
shall  sign  it,  but  if  not  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  Objections 
to  that  House  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall  en- 
ter the  Objections  at  large  on  their  Journal,  and  proceed  to  re- 
consider it.  If  after  such  Reconsideration  two  thirds  of  that 
House  shall  agree  to  pass  the  Bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together 
with  the  Objections,  to  the  other  House,  by  which  it  shall  like- 
wise be  reconsidered,  and  if  approved  by  two  thirds  of  that 
House,  it  shall  become  a  Law.  But  in  all  such  Cases  the  Votes 
of  both  Houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  Nays,  and  the 
Names  of  the  Persons  voting  for  and  against  the  Bill  shall  be 
entered  on  the  Journal  of  each  House  respectively.  If  any  Bill 
shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President  within  ten  Days  (Sun- 
days excepted)  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the 
Same  shall  be  a  Law,  in  like  Manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it, 
unless  the  Congress  by  their  Adjournment  prevent  its  Return, 
in  which  Case  it  shall  not  be  a  Law. 

Every  Order,  Resolution,  or  Vote  to  which  the  Concurrence 
of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary 


8 


(except  on  a  question  of  Adjournment)  shall  be  presented  to 
the  President  of  the  United  States  ;  and  before  the  Same  shall 
take  Effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or  being  disapproved  by 
him,  shall  be  repassed  by  two  thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives,  according  to  the  Rules  and  Limitations 
prescribed  in  the  Case  of  a  Bill. 

Section.  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  Power  To  lay  and  col- 
lect Taxes,  Duties,  Imposts  and  Excises,  to  pay  the  Debts  and 
provide  for  the  common  Defence  and  general  Welfare  of  the 
United  States  ;  but  all  Duties,  Imposts  and  Excises  shall  be 
uniform  throughout  the  United  States; 

To  borrow  Money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States; 

To  regulate  Commerce  with  foreign  Nations,  and  among  the 
several  States,  and  with  the  Indian  Tribes; 

To  establish  an  uniform  Rule  of  Naturalization,  and  uniform 
Laws  on  the  subject  of  Bankruptcies  throughout  the  United 
States; 

To  coin  Money,  regulate  the  Value  thereof,  and  of  foreign 
Coin,  and  fix  the  Standard  of  Weights  and  Measures ; 

To  provide  for  the  Punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  Securi- 
ties and  current  Coin  of  the  United  States; 

To  establish  Post  Offices  and  post  Roads; 

To  promote  the  Progress  of  Science  and  useful  Arts,  by  secur- 
ing for  limited  Times  to  Authors  and  Inventors  the  exclusive 
Right  to  their  respective  Writings  and  Discoveries; 

To  constitute  Tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme  Court; 

To  define  and  punish  Piracies  and  Felonies  committed  on  the 
high  Seas,  and  Offences  against  the  Law  of  Nations; 

To  declare  War,  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal,  and 
make  Rules  concerning  Captures  on  Land  and  Water; 

To  raise  and  support  Armies,  but  no  Appropriation  of  Money 
to  that  Use  shall  be  for  a  longer  Term  than  two  Years; 


9 


To  provide  and  maintain  a  Navy ; 

To  make  Rules  for  the  Government  and  Regulation  of  the 
land  and  and  naval  Forces; 

To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  Militia  to  execute  the  Laws 
of  the  Union,  suppress  Insurrections  and  repel  Invasions; 

To  provide  for  organizing,  arming,  and  disciplining,  the 
Militia,  and  for  governing  such  Part  of  them  as  may  be  employed 
in  the  Service  of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  States 
respectively,  the  Appointment  of  the  Officers,  and  the  Author- 
ity of  training  the  Militia  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed 
by  Congress; 

To  exercise  exclusive  Legislation  in  all  Cases  whatsoever, 
over  such  District  (not  exceeding  ten  Miles  square)  as  may,  by 
Cession  of  particular  States,  and  the  Acceptance  of  Congress, 
become  the  Seat  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and 
to  exercise  like  Authority  over  all  Places  purchased  by  the  Con- 
sent of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  which  the  Same  shall  be, 
for  the  Erection  of  Forts,  Magazines,  Arsenals,  dock- Yards, 
and  other  needful  Buildings; — And 

To  make  all  Laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for 
carrying  into  Execution  the  foregoing  Powers,  and  all  other 
Powers  vested  by  this  Constitution  in  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  or  in  any  Department  or  Officer  thereof. 
Section.  9.  The  Migration  or  Importation  of  such  Persons  as 
any  of  the  States  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit, 
shall  not  be  prohibited  by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  Year  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight,  but  a  Tax  or  duty  may  be 
imposed  on  such  Importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each 
Person. 

The  Privilege  of  the  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  shall  not  be  sus- 
pended, unless  when  in  Cases  of  Rebellion  or  Invasion  the  pub- 
lic Safety  may  require  it. 


IO 

No  Bill  of  Attainder  or  ex  post  facto  Law  shall  be  passed. 

No  Capitation,  or  other  direct,  Tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in 
Proportion  to  the  Census  or  Enumeration  herein  before  directed 
to  be  taken. 

No  Tax  or  Duty  shall  be  laid  on  Articles  exported  from  any 
State. 

No  Preference  shall  be  given  by  any  Regulation  of  Commerce 
or  Revenue  to  the  Ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another:  nor 
shall  Vessels  bound  to,  or  from,  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter, 
clear,  or  pay  Duties  in  another. 

No  Money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  Conse- 
quence of  Appropriations  made  by  Law;  and  a  regular  State- 
ment and  Account  of  the  Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  all 
public  Money  shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

No  Title  of  Nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States: 
And  no  Person  holding  any  Office  of  Profit  or  Trust  under 
them,  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of 
any  present,  Emolument,  Office,  or  Title,  of  any  kind  what- 
ever, from  any  King,  Prince,  or  foreign  State. 
Section,  io.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  Treaty,  Alliance, 
or  Confederation;  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal;  -coin 
Money;  emit  Bills  of  Credit;  make  any  Thing  but  gold  and 
silver  Coin  a  Tender  in  Payment  of  Debts;  pass  any  Bill  of 
Attainder,  ex  post  facto  Law,  or  Law  impairing  the  Obligation 
of  Contracts,  or  grant  any  Title  of  Nobility. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  the  Congress,  lay 
any  Imposts  or  Duties  on  Imports  or  Exports,  except  what  may 
be  absolutely  necessary  for  executing  it's  inspection  Laws:  and 
the  net  Produce  of  all  Duties  and  Imposts,  laid  by  any  State 
on  Imports  or  Exports,  shall  be  for  the  Use  of  the  Treasury  of 
the  United  States;  and  all  such  Laws  shall  be  subject  to  the 
Revision  and  Controul  of  the  Congress. 


1 1 

No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  Congress,  lay  any 
Duty  of  Tonnage,  keep  Troops,  or  Ships  of  War  in  time  of 
Peace,  enter  into  any  Agreement  or  Compact  with  another 
State,  or  with  a  foreign  Power,  or  engage  in  War,  unless  act- 
ually invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  Danger  as  will  not  admit 
of  delay. 

ARTICLE.  II. 

Section,  i.  The  executive  Power  shall  be  vested  in  a  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  Office 
during  the  Term  of  four  Years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice 
President,  chosen  for  the  same  Term,  be  elected,  as  follows 

Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  Manner  as  the  Legislature 
thereof  may  direct,  a  Number  of  Electors,  equal  to  the  whole 
Number  of  Senators  and  Representatives  to  which  the  State 
may  be  entitled  in  the  Congress:  but  no  Senator  or  Represent- 
ative, or  Person  holding  an  Office  of  Trust  or  Profit  under  the 
United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  Elector. 

The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote 
by  Ballot  for  two  Persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an 
Inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall 
make  a  List  of  all  the  Persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  Number  of 
Votes  for  each ;  which  List  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and 
transmit  sealed  to  the  Seat  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  President 
of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  Presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives,  open  all  the  Certificates,  and  the  Votes  shall 
then  be  counted.  The  Person  having  the  greatest  Number  of 
Votes  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  Number  be  a  Majority  of 
the  whole  Number  of  Electors  appointed;  and  if  there  be  more 
than  one  who  have  such  Majority,  and  have  an  equal  Number 
of  Votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  immediately 


12 


chuse  by  Ballot  one  of  them  for  President;  and  if  no  Person 
have  a  Majority,  then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  List  the 
said  House  shall  in  like  Manner  chuse  the  President.  But  in 
chusing  the  President,  the  Votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the 
Representation  from  each  State  having  one  Vote ;  A  quorum 
for  this  Purpose  shall  consist  of  a  Member  or  Members  from 
two  thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  Majority  of  all  the  States  shall 
be  necessary  to  a  Choice.  In  every  Case,  after  the  Choice  of 
the  President,  the  Person  having  the  greatest  Number  of  Votes 
of  the  Electors  shall  be  the  Vice  President.  But  if  there 
should  remain  two  or  more  who  have  equal  Votes,  the  Senate 
shall  chuse  from  them  by  Ballot  the  Vice  President. 

The  Congress  may  determine  the  Time  of  chusing  the  Elec- 
tors, and  the  Day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  Votes;  which 
Day  shall  be  the  same  throughout  the  United  States. 

Xo  Person  except  a  natural  born  Citizen,  or  a  Citizen  of  the 
United  States,  at  the  time  of  the  Adoption  of  this  Constitu- 
tion, shall  be  eligible  to  the  Office  of  President;  neither  shall 
any  Person  be  eligible  to  that  Office  who  shall  not  have  attained 
to  the  Age  of  thirty  five  Years,  and  been  fourteen  Years  a  Resi- 
dent within  the  United  States. 

In  Case  of  the  Removal  of  the  President  from  Office,  or  of 
his  Death,  Resignation,  or  Inability  to  discharge  the  Powers 
and  Duties  of  the  said  Office,  the  Same  shall  devolve  on  the 
Vice  President,  and  the  Congress  may  by  Law  provide  for  the 
Case  of  Removal,  Death,  Resignation  or  Inability,  both  of  the 
President  and  Vice  President,  declaring  what  Officer  shall  then 
act  as  President,  and  such  Officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until 
the  Disability  be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

The  President  shall,  at  stated  Times,  receive  for  his  Services, 
a  Compensation,  which  shall  neither  be  encreased  nor  dimin- 


13 

ished  during  the  Period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected, 
and  he  shall  not  receive  within  that  Period  any  other  Emolu- 
ment from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

Before  he  enter  on  the  Execution  of  his  Office,  he  shall  take 
the  following  Oath  or  Affirmation : — "I  do  solemnly  swear  (or 
affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  Office  of  President  of 
the  United  States,  and  will  to  the  best  of  my  Ability,  preserve, 
protect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. ' ' 
Section.  2.  The  President  shall  be  Commander  in  Chief  of 
the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Militia  of 
the  several  States,  when  called  into  the  actual  Service  of  the 
United  States  ;  he  may  require  the  Opinion,  in  writing,  of  the 
principal  Officer  in  each  of  the  executive  Departments,  upon 
any  Subject  relating  to  the  Duties  of  their  respective  Offices, 
and  he  shall  have  Power  to  grant  Reprieves  and  Pardons  for 
Offences  against  the  United  States,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeach- 
ment. 

He  shall  have  Power,  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent 
of  the  Senate,  to  make  Treaties,  provided  two  thirds  of  the  Sen- 
ators present  concur  ;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with 
the  Advice  and  Consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  Ambassa- 
dors, other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls,  Judges  of  the  su- 
preme Court,  and  all  other  Officers  of  the  United  States,  whose 
Appointments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which 
shall  be  established  by  Law  :  but  the  Congress  may  by  L,aw  vest 
the  Appointment  of  such  inferior  Officers,  as  they  think  proper, 
in  the  President  alone,  in  the  Courts  of  L,aw,  or  in  the  Heads 
of  Departments. 

The  President  shall  have  Power  to  fill  up  all  Vacancies  that 
may  happen  during  the  Recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  Com- 
missions which  shall  expire  at  the  End  of  their  next  Session. 


H 

Section.  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  to  the  Congress- 
Information  of  the  State  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their 
Consideration  such  Measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and 
expedient ;  he  may,  on  extraordinary  Occasions,  convene  both 
Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  Case  of  Disagreement  between 
them,  with  Respect  to  the  Time  pf  Adjournment,  he  may  ad- 
journ them  to  such  Time  as  he  shall  think  proper ;  he  ^all  re- 
ceive Ambassadors  and  other  public  Ministers ;  he  shall  take 
Care  that  the  Laws  be  faithfully  executed,  and  shall  Commis- 
sion all  the  Officers  of  the  United  States. 

Section.  4.  The  President,  Vice  President  and  all  civil  Offi- 
cers of  the  United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  Office  on  Im- 
peachment for,  and  Conviction  of,  Treason,  Bribery,  or  other 
high  Crimes  and  Misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Section,  i.  The  judicial  Power  of  the  United  States,  shall 
be  vested  in  one  supreme  Court,  and  in  such  inferior  Courts  as 
the  Congress  may  from  time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The 
Judges,  both  of  the  supreme  and  inferior  Courts,  shall  hold  their 
Offices  during  good  Behaviour,  and  shall,  at  stated  Times,  re- 
ceive for  their  Services,  a  Compensation,  which  shall  not  be 
diminished  during  their  continuance  in  Office. 
Section.  2.  The  judicial  Power  shall  extend  to  all  Cases,  in 
Law  and  Equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  Laws  of 
the  United  States,  and  Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made, 
under  their  Authority  ; — to  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors, 
other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls  ; — to  all  Cases  of  admiralty 
and  maritime  Jurisdiction  ; — to  Controversies  to  which  the 
United  States  shall  be  a  Party  ; — to  Controversies  between  two 
or  more  States  ; — between  a  State  and  Citizens  of  another 


15 

State  ; — between  Citizens  of  different  States, — between  Citizens 
of  the  same  State  claiming  Lands  under  Grants  of  different 
States,  and  between  a  State,  or  the  Citizens  thereof,  and  foreign 
States,  Citizens  or  Subjects. 

In  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors,  other  public  Ministers 
and  Consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  Party,  the 
supreme  Court  shall  have  original  Jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other 
Cases  before  mentioned,  the  supreme  Court  shall  have  appellate 
Jurisdiction,  both  as  to  Law  and  Fact,  with  such  Exceptions, 
and  under  such  regulations  as  the  Congress  shall  make. 

The  Trial  of  all  Crimes,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeachment,  shall 
be  by  Jury  ;  and  such  Trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the 
said  Crimes  shall  have  been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed 
within  any  State,  the  Trial  shall  be  at  such  Place  or  Places  as 
the  Congress  may  by  Law  have  directed. 

Section.  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States,  shall  consist 
only  in  levying  War  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  Ene- 
mies, giving  them  Aid  and  Comfort.  No  Person  shall  be  con- 
victed of  Treason  unless  on  the  Testimony  of  two  Witnesses  to 
the  same  overt  Act,  or  on  Confession  in  open  Court. 

The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  declare  the  Punishment  of 
Treason,  but  no  Attainder  of  Treason  shall  work  Corruption  of 
Blood,  or  Forfeiture  except  during  the  Life  of  the  Person  at- 
tainted. 

ARTICLE.  IV. 

Section,  i.  Full  Faith  and  Credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State 
to  the  public  Acts,  Records,  and  judicial  Proceedings  of  every 
other  State.  And  the  Congress  ma}'  by  general  Laws  prescribe 
the  Manner  in  which  such  Acts,  Records  and  Proceedings  shall 
be  proved,  and  the  Effect  thereof. 


i6 

Section.  2.  The  Citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all 
Privileges  and  Immunities  of  Citizens  in  the  several  States, 

A  Person  charged  in  any  State  with  Treason,  Felony,  or  other 
Crime,  who  shall  flee  from  Justice,  and  be  found  in  another 
State,  shall  on  Demand  of  the  executive  Authority  of  the  State 
from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  State 
having  Jurisdiction  of  the  Crime. 

No  Person  held  to  Service  or  Labour  in  one  State,  under  the 
Laws  thereof,  escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  Consequence  of 
any  Law  or  Regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  Service 
or  Labour,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  Claim  of  the  Party  to 
whom  such  Service  or  Labour  may  be  due. 
Section.  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress 
into  this  Union;  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected 
within  the  Jurisdiction  of  any  other  State;  nor  any  State  be 
formed  by  the  Junction  of  two  or  more  States,  or  Parts  of  States, 
without  the  Consent  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  concerned 
as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all 
needful  Rules  and  Regulations  respecting  the  Territory  or  other 
Property  belonging  to  the  United  States;  and  nothing  in  this 
Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  Prejudice  any  Claims 
of  the  United  States,  or  of  any  particular  State. 
Section.  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State 
in  this  Union  a  Republican  Form  of  Government,  and  shall 
protect  each  of  them  against  Invasion;  and  on  Application  of 
the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Executive  (when  the  Legislature 
cannot  be  convened)  against  domestic  Violence. 


17 


ARTICLE.  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two  thirds  of  both  Houses  shall 
deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose  Amendments  to  this  Constitu- 
tion, or,  on  the  Application  of  the  Legislatures  of  two  thirds 
of  the  several  States,  shall  call  a  Convention  for  proposing 
Amendments,  which,  in  either  Case,  shall  be  valid  to  all  In- 
tents and  Purposes,  as  Part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified 
by  the  Legislatures  of  three  fourths  of  the  several  States,  or 
by  Conventions  in  three  fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other 
Mode  of  Ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress  ;  Pro- 
vided that  no  Amendment  which  may  be  made  prior  to  the 
Year  One  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  shall  in  any  Man- 
ner affect  the  first  and  fourth  Clauses  in  the  Ninth  Section  of 
the  first  Article  ;  and  that  no  State,  without  its  Consent,  shall 
be  deprived  of  it's  equal  Suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

ARTICLE.  VI. 

All  Debts  contracted  and  Engagements  entered  into,  before 
the  Adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the 
United  States  under  this  Constitution,  as  under  the  Confedera- 
tion. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  Laws  of  the  United  States  which 
shall  be  made  in  Pursuance  thereof ;  and  all  Treaties  made,  or 
which  shall  be  made,  under  the  Authority  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  the  supreme  Law  of  the  Land ;  and  the  Judges  in  every 
State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  any  Thing  in  the  Constitution  or 
Laws  of  any  State  to  the  Contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the 
Members  of  the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  executive 
and  judicial  Officers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several 
10575  2 


i8 

States,  shall  be  bound  by  Oath  or  Affirmation,  to  support  this 
Constitution ;  but  no  religious  Test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a 
Qualification  to  any  Office  or  public  Trust  under  the  United 
States. 

ARTICLE.  VII. 

The  Ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  States,  shall  be 
sufficient  for  the  Establishment  of  this  Constitution  between 
the  States  so  ratifying  the  Same. 


The  Word,  "the",  being  in- 
terlined between  the  seventh 
and  eighth  Lines  of  the  first 
Page,  The  Word  "  Thirty  " 
being  partly  written  on  an  Fra- 
zure  in  the  fifteenth  Line  of 
the  first  Page,  The  Words  "  is 
tried"  being  interlined  between 
the  thirty  second  and  thirty 
third  Lines  of  the  first  Page 
and  the  Word  "the"  being  in- 
terlined between  the  forty  third 
and  forty  fourth  Lines  of  the 
second  Page. 

[Note  by  Printer. — The  in- 
terlined and  rewritten  words, 
mentioned  in  the  above  ex- 
planation, are  in  this  edition, 
printed  in  their  proper  places 
in  the  text.] 


Done  in  Convention  by  the  Unanimous 
Consent  of  the  States  present  the  Sev- 
enteenth Day  of  September  in  the  Year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  Eighty  seven  and  of  the  In- 
dependance  of  the  United  States  of 
America  the  Twelfth  In  Witne§s 
whereof  We  have  hereunto  subscribed 
our  Names, 


GP:  WASHINCxTON— Presidt. 

and  deputy  from  Virginia 

Attest  William  Jackson  Secretary 

l  John  Langdon  > 
New  Hampshire^  NlCHQLAS  Qj^jjan  5 


(  Nathaniel  Gorham 
Massachusetts  { 

(  Rufus  King 


19 


Connecticut 
New  York  . 

New  Jersey 


Delaware 


Maryland 


Virginia 


Pennsylvania  { 


[  Wm  :  Saml.  Johnson 
I  Roger  Sherman 

Alexander  Hamilton 

f  Wil  :  Livingston 
I  David  Brearley. 
Wm.  Paterson. 
,  Jon a  :  Dayton 

f  B  Franklin 
Thomas  Mifflin 
Robt.  Morris 
Geo.  Clymer 
Thos.  Fitz  Simons 
Jared  Ingersoll 
James  Wilson 
^Gouv  Morris 

f  Geo  :  Read 
Gunning  Bedford  jun 
John  Dickinson 
Richard  Bassett 

t  Jaco  :  Broom 

f  James  McHenry 


Dan  of  St  Thos.  Jenifer 


I  Danl  Carroll 

\  John  Blair — 

(  James  Madison  Jr. 

f  Wm:  Blount 
I 


North  Carolina  {  Richd.  Dobbs  Spaight. 
{ Hu  Williamson 


20 


South  Carolina  < 


[J.  RuTLEDGE 

Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney 
Charles  Pinckney 
I  Pierce  Butler. 


Georgia 


William  Few 
Abr  Baldwin 


ARTICLES 

IN 

ADDITION  TO,  AND  AMENDMENT  OF 

THE 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 

PROPOSED  BY  CONGRESS  AND  RATIFIED  BY  THE  LEGISLATURES 
OF  THE  SEYERAL  STATES,  PURSUANT  TO  THE  FIFTH 
ARTICLE  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


[ARTICLE  L] 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establishment  of 
religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or  abridging 
the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press;  or  the  right  of  th.e  peo- 
ple peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to  petition  the  Government  for 
a  redress  of  grievances. 

[ARTICLE  II. ] 

A  well  regulated  Militia,  being  necessary  to  the  security  of 
a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  Arms, 
shall  not  be  infringed. 

[ARTICLE  III.] 

Xo  Soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace  be  quartered  in  any  house, 
without  the  consent  of  the  Owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in 
a  manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

21 


* 


22 

[ARTICLE  IV.] 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses, 
papers,  and  effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and  seizures, 
shall  not  be  violated,  and  no  Warrants  shall  issue,  but  upon 
probable  cause,  supported  by  Oath  or  affirmation,  and  particu- 
larly describing  the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or 
things  to  be  seized. 

[ARTICLE  V.] 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital,  or  otherwise 
infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indictment  of  a 
Grand  Jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces, 
or  in  the  Militia,  when  in  actual  service  in  time  of  War  or  pub- 
lic danger;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for  the  same  offence 
to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb;  nor  shall  be  com- 
pelled in  any  Criminal  Case  to  be  a  witness  against  himself,  nor 
be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of 
law;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use,  with- 
out just  compensation. 

[ARTICLE  VI.] 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  enjoy  the  right 
to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  State 
and  district  wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which 
district  shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be 
informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation;  to  be  con- 
fronted with  the  witnesses  against  him;  to  have  compulsory  pro- 
cess for  obtaining  Witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  Assist- 
ance of  Counsel  for  his  defence. 


23 


[ARTICLE  VII.] 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  controversy  shall 
exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  pre- 
served, and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined 
in  any  Court  of  the  United  States,  than  according  to  the  rules 
of  the  common  law. 

[ARTICLE  VIII.  ] 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  im- 
posed, nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

[ARTICLE  IX.] 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution,  of  certain  rights,  shall 
not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by  the 
people. 

[ARTICLE  X.] 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  the  Consti- 
tution, nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to  the 
States  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

[ARTICLE  XL] 

The  Judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be  construed 
to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity,  commenced  or  prosecuted 
against  one  of  the  United  States  by  Citizens  of  another  State, 
or  by  Citizens  or  Subjects  of  any  Foreign  State. 

[ARTICLE  XII.] 

The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states,  and  vote 
by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice  President,  one  of  whom,  at 


24 

least,  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  state  with  them- 
selves; they  shall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as 
President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as  Vice- 
President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted 
for  as  President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice-President, 
and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  lists  they  shall 
sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the 
Senate; — The  President  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  presence  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certifi- 
cates and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted; — The  person  having 
the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President,  shall  be  the  Presi- 
dent, if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of 
Electors  appointed;  and  if  no  person  have  such  majority,  then 
from  the  persons  having  the  highest  numbers  not  exceeding 
three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as  President,  the  House  of 
Representatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  Presi- 
dent. But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be 
taken  by  states,  the  representation  from  each  state  having 
one  vote;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member 
or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all 
the  states  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  And  if  the  House  of 
Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  President  whenever  the  right 
of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before  the  fourth  day  of 
March  next  following,  then  the  Vice-President  shall  act  as 
President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other  constitutional 
disability  of  the  President.  The  person  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be  the  Vice-President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  Electors 
appointed,  and  if  no  person  have  a  majority,  then  from  the  two 
highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice- 


25 

President ;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two-thirds 
of  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  But  no  person  consti- 
tutionally ineligible  to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible 
to  that  of  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

[ARTICLE  XIII.  ] 

Section  i.  Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude,  ex- 
cept as  a  punishment  for  crime  whereof  the  party  shall  have 
been  duly  convicted,  shall  exist  within  the  United  States,  or 
any  place  subject  to  their  jurisdiction. 

Section  2.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this  article 
by  appropriate  legislation. 

[ARTICLE  XIV.] 

Section  i.  All  persons  born  or  naturalized  in  the  United 
States,  and  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof,  are  citizens  of 
the  United  States  and  of  the  State  wherein  they  reside.  No 
State  shall  make  or  enforce  any  law  which  shall  abridge  the 
privileges  or  immunities  of  citizens  of  the  United  States ;  nor 
shall  any  State  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property, 
without  due  process  of  law;  nor  deny  to  any  person  within  its 
jurisdiction  the  equal  protection  of  the  laws. 

Section  2.  Representatives  shall  be  apportioned  among  the 
several  States  according  to  their  respective  numbers,  counting 
the  whole  number  of  persons  in  each  State,  excluding  Indians 
not  taxed.  But  when  the  right  to  vote  at  any  election  for  the 
choice  of  electors  for  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States,  Representatives  in  Congress,  the  Executive  and  Judicial 


26 


officers  of  a  State,  or  the  members  of  the  Legislature  thereof, 
is  denied  to  any  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  such  State,  being 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or 
in  any  way  abridged,  except  for  participation  in  rebellion,  or 
other  crime,  the  basis  of  representation  therein  shall  be  reduced 
in  the  proportion  which  the  number  of  such  male  citizens  shall 
b>ear  to  the  whole  number  of  male  citizens  twenty-one  years  of 
age  in  such  State. 

Section  3.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  or  Representative 
in  Congress,  or  elector  of  President  and  Vice  President,  or  hold 
any  office,  civil  or  military,  under  the  United  States,  or  under 
any  State,  who,  having  previously  taken  an  oath,  as  a  member 
of  Congress,  or  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States,  or  as  a  mem- 
ber of  any  State  legislature,  or  as  an  executive  or  judicial  officer 
of  any  State,  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
shall  have  engaged  in  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  same, 
or  given  aid  or  comfort  to  the  enemies  thereof.  But  Congress 
may  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  each  House,  remove  such  disability. 

Section  4.  The  validity  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United 
States,  authorized  by  law,  including  debts  incurred  for  payment 
of  pensions  and  bounties  for  services  in  suppressing  insurrection 
or  rebellion,  shall  not  be  questioned.  But  neither  the  United 
States  nor  any  State  shall  assume  or  pay  any  debt  or  obligation 
incurred  in  aid  of  insurrection  or  rebellion  against  the  United 
States,  or  any  claim  for  the  loss  or  emancipation  of  any  slave; 
but  all  such  debts,  obligations  and  claims  shall  be  held  illegal 
and  void. 

Section  5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce,  by 
appropriate  legislation,  the  provisions  of  this  article. 


27 


[ARTICLE  XV.] 

Section  i.  The  right  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  vote 
shall  not  be  denied  or  abridged  by  the  United  States  or  by  any 
State  on  account  of  race,  color,  or  previous  condition  of  servitude. 

Section  2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  enforce  this 
article  by  appropriate  legislation. 


O 


